Fire-escape.



1.1. WEINANDT. FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 19lfi.

1,242,286. Patented 001;. 9,1917.

y amwufoz 2/ 8&1 J. J. WFJHRHOT" m JwLSJfLLJ JOSEPH J. WEINAND'I, OF AYB, NORTH DAKOTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 191 '7.

Application filed May 5, 1916. Serial No. 95,541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. WEINANDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ayr, in the county of Cass, State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fire escapes, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby it can be compactly folded so as to be conveniently carried in a trunk or suitcase, and which can be quickly brought into operative position should the necessity arise.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a portable individual fire escape which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be quickly fitted to any window and used upon tall as well as low buildings, which admits of the person regulatin his s eed of descent as desired, and which by eing subsequently drawn up and used again will provide for the escape of a number of persons.

Witli'these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the. description proceeds,- the. novel features thereof being pointed out in the appendedclaims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion, of a building. and a window. therein, showing the manner of .a plying a fire escape constructed in accor ance with the invention to the window, portions of the fire escape slide being shown in section to more clearly illustrate the details thereof.

Fig. 2 1s a transverse sectional view through the window frame shown b Fig.

,1,'the fire escape being shown in si e elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the window frame, the collapsible bar which engages the inner face of the window frame appearing in top plan view,

and portions thereof being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through the slide and rope grin ping means.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view through one of the rope guides which are applied to the rungs of the ladder.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the window frame of a building, to which the fire escape is shown as applied. A collapsible bar is adapted to extend transversely across the window and to engage the sides of the window frame 1 on the inside of the building, said bar being shown in the present instance as comprising the telescoping sections 2 and 3 which can be locked in an adjusted position by means of the set screw 4. The Window frame engaging bar can thus be readily collapsed and packed in a trunk or suitcase, although the construction is such that it can be very quickly fitted to the window frame and locked in operative position. The outer end of the telescoping section 2 is provided with a short lateral arm 5 which fits around and engages an inside edge of the window frame so as to hold the bar against longitudinal movement in one direction. An eye or ring 6 projects from the section 2 and has the cable.7 connected thereto, said eye being slightly spaced from the end of the section 2 so as to be disposed close to one side of the window frame when the transverse bar is in operative position, thereby reducing the strain upon the transverse bar and rendering it unnecessary to make the bar excessively heavy. The opposite telescoping section 3 is provided at the extremity thereof with a prong 8 which is adapted to bite into the other slde of. the

window frame to assist in holding the trans verse bar in position. At a point suitably spaced from the end thereof the section 3 is provided with a lateral lug 9 which projects into the operiiqgwof the wvinflow frame at a point adjacent the side thereof which is engaged by the prong 8. I

The carriage whih rs flrramged to travel upon the cable 7 for the purpose of conveying an occupant of the building safely to the round in case of fire, includes ,a slide '10 li roiigh Wliih' the ezthle 7 is Threaded, and a rope ladder L pendent 10m the slide, and arranged to be directed in its move- :ments by 'themable. Elheflexihle side ropes -11 of the ladder L iprefierably converge toward the top thereof, where they are permanently secured ito deter-ally projecting arms 12 at the base of the slide. Ellhe rungs 13 of the rope ladder are permanently connected ml; the ends thereof tothe side ropes 11, -the middle gPOlZtlOIlS of the rungs halving clips 15 applied thereto, and the iolips earq-ying zguide eyes 1'5 through which the cable 7 threaded. l lihiledescending ithe person is-surpposed to stand upon itheilowermost 'rung 13 land 'igrasp thBRSl-l-(IB 110311 his hands, said slide being provided with i1 im-eke mechanism 'whiohengagesithe cable '7 to regulate the speedof the :descent.

Arranged upon oneaside of the :passage through [the slide 10 is ;a pair lOf vfiifhifially stirred and slightly spaced rollers J26. A ithird roller 1 is 1 arranged upon the opposite side *of the maiole 7 and ljournaled upon a brake lever '18, insuch ama'nner that :it can be forcibly thrust into the spam between tthe 'two rollers 1:6 for .eoiiperation ltherewith to grip the cable :7 and eitherdock the slide :in a fixed :position upon itheealile, era-egaldate the descent :of the carriage lupon fthe cable The lower end of the bmlke lever 18 is pivoted at 19 do one sidenfithe slide 10, while' the upper end ithereof is curved iinwardliy toiconitormitoithe contour oifzti i'e Jlpper end-of the slide 10, and enraniged tobe .ipnessed inwardly by a hind gmusping Ashe 'upper'end of 'theislide. ll'hhis rapper-lend 0f ithe slide is preferalily tapered aimi n swingi ng bail '20 is piroteh y mounted thereon so that it can be swungaround'!zhe "fl pper end of the b reke "lever 18. "A'xthunib'seww :21 '15s ithreaded in the swinging end whhhe ba il 90 and by tiglitenin "this thumb serew 1the' brake *le-v er $18 can decreed inwardly mndflihe rollers caused to tighitl y grip the oalble 7 to loekthe slide against movement uponthe'eable. it will also heohvious that tightening a'nd leoeeni 1 g 1 the thumb met 21 e'the speedof dese'ent-oan be =reguflated as desired, and there is no' danger eftheemiriage getting beyond the-eontrel ot the o erator, sinus the thmnb mat prevents Alfie ealile be'i ng suddenly released.

succession, i f-meessary;

Projecting rearwardly from the slide 10 6b is a runner 22 which is adapted to engage the face 01 the building in such a manner as to hold the slide sieced therefrom and prevent the qgpemtot rem fikinxafing hr injuring his hands. This runner 22 is pref eralily formed with an outer edge which is inclined upwardly and away from the slide, so that the device will slip freely over any ledges or projections upon the build in The lowermost rung 13 of the ro e 'la( filer L is provided at its extreniities w h =oliPS =23, Stud clips carrying inwardly extending arms 24 upon which the rollers 25 are journaled. T hese mailers are ed to'en andrtnmvel upon the semi the lbui ldimgand serve to hblll the le wer end of the lladder property spaced dram the building. lit will thus be :seen thet the runner 28 and mdllers'85 cooperate with ieeehether to hold the oazlniageraiwafy li roin bliilding so that :the hands and ieet of the opiera'tor will not sbe'bruised or :sleinned by contact with-the 'htxildin Jn ithe operation the device, the win- -d.o\\ iframe lengaiing bar :is first adjusted 'to etheiproper ilengt and then fitted to the inside vo'f -the window ime, the eye 6 and ilatGI H1iflIm-5 temhraoing one side o'f the iwindowdirame, while th'e prong 8 penetrates the opposite side *thereo'f ithe ilztterel 111- 9 projecting idto the window opening a jacent tothe saidioppesite sitlemhereof; l he slide 10 :is than positively 1oeked upon' the cable 7 by tightening theithumb screw 131, and Lthe carriage mind cable droppadthrough nihe "window, the rope :lalider 1h bing properly :threaded eupon [the cable 7 and ipondnt Ifirom theisilide flfl. whe operator wi ll eraiwl ethrough the window, plaee his feet iupon eke lupper linings of the rope ladder an, and then descend (the rope ladder toiihe lowermost rung athereofyiinumhiiehi n he one eonvmie dtlyzgmsp dahe sliide 111) hnd manipulate theiohumb serelv'v eli @he bmke mechnnismimmy now hedoosened hy slighxily onscmmigugfthe thembscmewsfii, emfl' the de semi; (ifeheieam iagefliogethenwifli its passenger, .megulatbd-m s 5 y p ring lbheitll'illiib Esemw. Am tlie-deseent zlias'lbeen ieohipleted, and Qhe passengeir 'Hisriharged, :the marriage lean aloe drawn It; 12.0 the window and used for the descent enother person, whereby enablking ammriber :o'f r ensomslto esoape iirem ilhe builklingih Having mhus desflriibed the inventran,

what I iulaim ms and desire slide for engagement with the cable fl'eii i lile side ropes pendent from the lateral arms of the tubular slide on opposite sides of the cable, rungs connecting the side ropes and cooperating therewith to provide a collapsible ladder construction, and independent guide members projecting from intermediate portions of the several rungs for engagement with the main cable.

In testimony whereof I have signed my JOSEPH J. WEINANDT.

Witnesses:

SIDNEY FISK, E. M. BARNE'I'I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

